Indian-origin Rishi Sunak tops first Tory leadership vote

Indian-origin Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak won the first round of voting by MPs to choose the next Conservative leader and prime minister.

There is another round of voting today for the remaining candidates.
There is another round of voting today for the remaining candidates. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@itv

He got 88 votes, with Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt in second place on 67 and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss third on 50. Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and former health secretary Jeremy Hunt were eliminated from the race.

There is another round of voting today for the remaining candidates. The field is expected to be narrowed to two by the end of next week, and then around 160,000 Tory members decide which candidate they want to become the next party leader and prime minister.

The result will be announced on September 5. If Sunak does become PM, then he will be the first person of Indian or even Asian origin to hold the post.

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